There's still better to come says coach Copp

READING made it five wins out of five in the Premier Division but coach Jon Copp said: "You haven't seen the best of us yet."

He added: "There is still room for improvement and I think it will come. We don't want to peak too soon this season."

Two goals from Tom Bertram for the second successive week has taken the Sonning Lane men five points clear in the table.

Though picking up a few trophies along the way, one of Reading's weaknesses in recent seasons has been their failure to convert penalty corners.

But the arrival this year of England international Bertram from Bournville has certainly strengthened that department.

He showed why he is one of the best strikers of the ball in the country when hitting two ferocious shots in the 22nd and 27th minutes from their first and third corners of Sunday's match.

"It was nice to get a couple of goals in a home game," said Bertram, who had netted two at Old Loughtonians the previous week.

"I am enjoying it at Reading though it's the travelling is a bit of a bind at the moment as I am living in Birmingham, though I hope to move down in the near future."

The medical student, who is preparing for his final exams, was unlucky not to have added to his tally, only being denied by John Ebsworth in the Teddington goal.

Ebsworth also kept out shots from Andy Todd, Mark Pearn and Ken Robinson during an excellent first-half from the league leaders.

Teddington, who came to Reading following three wins and a draw and having conceded only two goals, were solid in defence but they could do nothing to stop a sensational third goal in the 44th minute.

Bertram drove a long and highish pass into the circle in the inside-left position, from where Pearn stuck out his stick and deflected the ball past a shocked keeper. It was Pearn's first goal of the season.

Teddington pulled one back on the hour mark when James Mulcair turned in a cross but, with Howard Hoskin producing another industrious performance in midfield, Reading always looked dangerous and with less than two minutes remaining he set up a goal for Ken Robinson, the Kiwi's eighth in five games.

This Sunday (1pm) Reading travel to Canterbury, who had a fine 3-2 win at Southgate last Sunday after twice being in arrears.

TOM BERTRAM scored England's goal from a penalty corner, in their 4-1 defeat by Holland in front of more than 3,000 spectators at Milton Keynes last night. But the Dutch hit back to give England a lesson in finishing.

Manager Dave Whittle said "We had three shots on target from five chances and the Dutch had five from five and scored four of them."